Centrifugal separating apparatus



Oct. 2 1923.

' J. Ma KAYE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27.

1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Get 2, 1923. 1,4sis22 J. MMKAYE GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING APPARATUS J. M KAYE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Oct.

Filed Sept. 27 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 2 1923.

I J. M KAYE: CE NTRIFUGAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27. 1921 I 5 Sheets-Sheet hum mm s J. M cKAYE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed. Sept. 2'7 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Get. 2, 1923.

JAMES ivrAc A YE, or CAMBRIDGE, MAssAonusEr rsi 31 n cnN'rnIrUGAL snrnnn'rrno 'ArrAnA'rUs."

' Application. filed September, SeriaLNo. 503,595.;

' liquid constituents ofslimes whichare -formed. in certain processes involved in mining' and ore reduction where a large volume .ofmaterialmust be handled and in which both the solid and liquid constituents, after separation, must" be discharged from the apparatus 'while. it continues to operate uninterruptedly.

In my co-pendin 368,927, filed Marc 26, 1920, I have described and claimed a novel apparatus of this type. -The present invention is concerned with anlapparatus of the general character disclosed inmy prior. application, and it aims particularly'to devise improved mechanism for controlling the discharge of the solid-constituents from an apparatus of this general type,-to improve the mechanism that levels or distributes the solid material withinthe separator, andlgenerally to improve the operation, construction and organization of apparatus of this character. To these-ends especially important features of the invention reside in a novel construction of rotary valve mechanism which controls-the discharge ofthe solid material from the separator, and in a rotary mechanism for levelling ior distributing this solid material within the separator.v r a 1' Since the proportions of the solid and liquidconstituents ofthe slimes. above referredto, vary within-wide limits, it is necessaryto vary the rate of removal of the solid material from the separator, and the present invention provides a novel arrangement whereby this result can be conveniently accomplished.

This ;and other objects of the invention and the manner in which it is here proposed to accomplish them willbe readily understood from the following description when application Serial No.

read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel, features willjbje particularly pointed outi-in the V appendedv claims. In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment .of my. in

vention, Figure 1 is aside elevation;

[Fig. 2is a front elevation;

' Fig. 3 is a cross sectionalplan-view on the line 3-3 of Fig.1; I

-Fig. 4 isga vertical'cross sectional view YT through the centerof the machine, thektop portion above the separator chamber being omitted;

Fig. 5-is an enlarged cross sectional-detail view showing the construction and arrangementof the liquid outlet;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view shove ing the belt shiftin mechanism;. r I Fig, 7 is a half pan of the interior valve plate;

of the separationchamber; and I Fig. 9 is a halfplanof the exterior valve late." V 'r The apparatus shown comprises a-vertical shaft consisting of anupperhollow portion 7 Fig. 8 is a half' planlofthe 1.1, and a lower solid portion :12, the two parts of the shaft being secured together in 7 any suitable manner. This shaft rotates in upper and lowerbearings 13 and let, respectively, in the supporting frame 15.. .A pulley 16 fixed near the upper, end of-gtheshaft provides suitable means for connecting the same to a source of power.

The separator chamber comprises a cylin- :der 17', Fig. 4, having top and, bottom plates .18 and 19, respectively, these plates being provided with flanges 20. The circular plates 18 and 19 are secured to the :hollow portion 11 of the shaft and each-plate is provided with a plurality of rectangular holes or valve ports; 21- circumferentially arranged, as shown in Fig. 8,,these holes 21: being radially bevelled at theirinner and outer ends, as shown in Fig. 4, toassistthe flow of the 'solid material therethrough. 'Batfie plates or partitions 22. and 23 .of a.

diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the; cylinderfl'Yf are securely mounted onthe hollow 'portion llbfthe shaft and are spacedfapart fronii'the plates .18 and 19, respectively, this arrangement providing an annular passage for' the flow of the solid material and a chamber in which such solid material may collect.

Located between each pair of plates 18', 22 and 19, 23, is an interior valve plate 24 provided with an internal gear 26 and also provided with a plurality of radially 6X' tending arms 25 which form valves; The

' faces of the plates 24 engage the inner faces of the respective plates 18 and 19 and act,

when rotated, to alternately cover and uncover the rectangular holes or valve ports 21 in said plates 18 and 19; Onthe' exterior of the plates '18 andl9 are mounted circular end plates or members 28 and 29, respec- .tively,"ea'ch of which is provided with. a

' "plurality'of rectangular slots circumferentially arranged, and equal in number to the numberof valves125 on the plates 24. Each of these members- 28 and 29 is also provided with an internal gear 38, Fig. 9. The inner ends of these slots 30'are radially bevelled to register with the bevels of the corresponding ends of the valve ports 21 in the plate 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. These slots 30 lead to upper and lower troughs, the upper trough ill-being shaped to guide the solid materials downward,- while the lower "On these reduced ends of each shaft 36 are secured pinions 37, two'for each end of each shaft, each pair being separated by the top and bottom plates 18-and 19 respectively. The inner pinions 37 meshwith the internal ears 2626 in the plates 2424, while the outer pinions mesh with the internal gears 3838' of the members 28' and 29, and this mechanism. drives "the said plates 24 and members 28 and 29 in unison with but at a 7 {different speed from that of-the cylinder 17.

The 'fluid' mixture tobe treated is led into a tank 39 and thence into the hollow portion 11 of the shaft, the flow of liquid into this tank being regulated in any suitable manner, as by a valve controlled by aball float. The

, liquid flows from the tank 39, into the hollow 7 portion 11 of the shaft. by gravity, and

through holes 40, Fig.4, into the'lower part of the cylinder 17. It is obvious'that due to the rapid rotation of the cylinder, the solid particles of material carriedby the liquid will be thrown against the peripheral wall of the cylinder and after a time will build up a layer 41' of material hereinafter referred to as mud. The liquid, being lighter than the solid material, will occupy the central portion of the cylinder and, due to the hydraulic head upon it, will flow to the upper part of the cylinder, where it will be discharged through pipes 42. These pipes are led to the interior of the separating chamber .throughthe'top plate 18 and baffle plate 22, while the outer free ends are radially arranged to utilize the centrifugal action in discharging the liquid.

In order to distribute the flow of the liquid substantially uniformly through all parts of the cylinder and thus subject all parts of the body-of liquid to the centrifugal action for substantially the same length of time, a series ofsettling'pjans or discs-43 are interposed at an intermediate point in'the cylin discslie in the layer of mud 41 and each pan "der The peripheral edges 'of'these pa-nssor is provided with a series of short depending outlet tub'es 44, these tubes on alternate pansbeing located close to theshaft, while those in-the otherpans are located at a con siderably greater 'radial distance from the shaft. The result of this arrangement is to cause the liquid to flow in a zigzag path as it travels upwardly toward the outlet tubes 42.

.90 It will be noted that each pan 43 has the shape of a conewith a very broad base anda very shortaxisso that as the liquid mixture flows from an opening 44 adjacent the hollow portion 11 ofthe-shaft to another opening near the peripheral edge ofthe next pan, it must flow downwardly inop-position to the' general "direction of flow through the cylinder; The fluid mixture flows upwardly in travelling from one pan to another only as moves inwardly toward the center of rotation, and consequently? travels in opposition to the direction in which it is urged by centrifugal force For the purpose of dr iving the valve mechanism, two brackets '45' and 46, Fig. 1,

are mounted on the frame'15 and support a vertical shaft 47, to the lower end of which is secured a pulley 48. A belt 49 connects this pulley with the flanged pulley 34. To the upper'end of this vertical shaft 47 is secured a spiral gear 5O meshing with a spiral gear 51 secured on one end of a horizontal shaft'52 mounted in a bracket 53 on the frame 15. Near' the end of the shaft'52,

remote froml thespiral gear 51, is secured a pulley 54 over which passes abelt 55 leading from a pulley'56 on a shaft 57 connected with a suitable source of power. shaft 52 d between the pulley 54 and the bracket 53 is rotatably mounted a' pulley 58, equal in diameter to. the diameter ofthe pul ey 54, while secured to this said pulley 58 isa gear 59 which meshes with a'gear 60 secured to one endof a shaft 61' rotatably mounted in the upperjportion of the bracket On the 'At the other" end of the shaft 61'. is

secured a gear 62 meshing'with a gear 63 secured on the shaft 52. 1 The gears 60 and 63' are equal in diameter, as are also the i gears 59 and 62, but'th'e gears 59 and 62am of less diameter than the gears and 63.

When the-'- belt '55 therefore is shiftedfrom the pulley-54 to the pulley =58,the combination of gears just described acts as a speed reducing means for the shaft 52.

A't'the gend ofthe shaft 52*a'djacent the pulley 54 is secured a spiral gear-'64 which meshes witha spiral gear 65 attached to the upper'end-of a vertica'lshaft 66 rotatably mounted in brackets 67 and 68 secured to the frame 15. Attached to the lower end of the shaft 66 is a'gear 69 which meshes with gear teeth '70 cut in the periphery of the circular discharge platform 38 and by means ,of which said platform is rotated. The

lower side of theplatform 33 near its periphcry is provided wit-ha depending ring oi.

track T1, Fig. a, which restson a plurality of flanged rolls 72 rotatably mounted-on the frame 15. I

V V It will now be understood: that the sep arating chamberis driven-at aconstant rate of speed by powerapplied to} the pulley. 16,

while the valve plates Q ian'd members 28 and 29, may be 'driven fat diflerent'rates of speed through thespeed change gearing above des cribed; The separating" chamber. and

the valveplates 24'and members 28 and-29 all rotate in the same direction, but thesepiarating chamherrotates at a .different'sp'eed from the other parts, the valves 5'25 acting under these conditions to successively 1111- cover and cover the valve "ports 2l in the plates '18 and 1S). \Vhi'le the ports 21 are un-' covered by the valves 25 they-'will'fill with much; butgimmediately afterthe' ports are covered again by the valves, each port 'comes into register with its corresponding slot 30 and themud pocketed in the valve ports is thrown by centrifugal action through the slots 30 into one of the troughs 31 or 32.

The layer of-mud41, as it builds up. on the interior of the cylinder 17, flows endwise of the cylinder toward the top. and bottom, through the annular passagesbetween the interior Wall of the c linder and the'periph eryofthe bafiie pl cs 22 and 23 and nto.

the mud chamber so formed between such hafile plates and the top. and bottom plates 18 and 19 r'esmectively. To assist'such flow and to keep the thickness of the'layer of mud 41 as near uniform-as possible, I" have provided a plurality of-rods 01 wires 73 attached at top and bottom to the ends-0f the valves 25, as shown in Figs. 3and A. These rods or wires eXerta leveling action on the layer of mud, accelerate-its flow, and prevent cakingz' Y u '3 It is desirable to so control the operation 'of 'the separator thatr'the' mudiwill be discharged substantially as rapidly as it is deposited.

by varying therateof deposit'or therate of discharge. I consider it usually more This objectmay be attained either feasible, however,: to controlthe rate" of dis charge and for that reason I have provided a governing mechanism for'the mud discharging means and I make this mechanism responsive automatically'itovariations in the thickness of the layer of mud, so that when this thickness increases-beyond a predeterjmined limit the discharging nieans" will he opera-ted: t'owcarry the mud away imore rapidly, and conversely, ifthe thioknessof the mudi layer becomes too greatly reduced, the rateofdisc'liarge willhe reduced. In other words; the. governing mecha'nismtends to so regulate the rate of discharge of theinud that the thickness of the Iayeriwill be main-' tained within substantially predetermined limitshfThis governing mechanism is" like that shown and described m y (lo-pending application;aloove gdesignated and reference should be made to? this application for a full I dGSGI'lPtlOll of the mechanism; For the pres ent' purposes it. is merely necessary to" say that this?mechanism?comprises a. float .or 'feeler 74,- Fig. 4, supported ontwo pivoted arms .r75-I-75, so that-it can move backward and forward'in a substantially horizontal plane toward or fromfithesurface of the layer of mud 41'. OneI'arm-of a bell crank lei' er 76; fulcrumed at 7 7, has a pin and'slo't connection with thezrearward end of an ex 9 tension orarm'projecting from the feeler 7 4:,

' while 1 the other arm of said bell crank-lever projects through one-ofthe slots-4O infthe hollow portion: 11 of th-eshaftandfis pivoted to thelower end-of r0d.,78 that extends coo axially through this hollow lportion l1 and V intogthe casing'79.mountedyon top of the tank 39. A mechanisml not shown) inter mittently moves theifeeler away from'the layer'of mud'and immediately allows it to its return ag-a ininto contact with thevmud; so

that the position of the feeler during the greaterpart of the time is determined by the thickness of the wall of mud in the cylinder. I This governing mechanism also. includes a.

such a speedwithrelation to'the speed of rotation. of the cylinder as to discharge the accumulated mudthrough the ports" 21, suh5 stant-ially aslfast as it. is de] iosited. Should, however,the mudbe deposited at such. a. rate that the Valve arrangement comprising the valve covers 25, holes 21L and passages 30 be unable to discharge the mud as fast as v pulley 54. The shaft 52 is thenvconnec-ted it is deposited, the feeler 7 1 will then perate through the governing meclianisnr to move therack 8O outwardly, :a's'viewedin Fig. 6,'thus causing thebelt fork 85 to move the belt 55 ofl the pulleyw58 "and onto the directly to the driving'meehanism and the speed of the Valves is changed relatively, to the speed of the cylinder to produce-a more frequent uncovering of -the ports 2i and consequently a more rapid-discharge of the mud from the separating chamber.

"WVhen the apparatus is first started into operation there will be no mudrin the mud chambers, and the valves, therefore, should not be operated iuntil a mud layer has been built up sufficiently: to seal the mud chamber, vThevalve mechanism may then be started and thereafter the apparatus'willl delivera substantially constant flow of mud. Y The apparatus is enclosed 'ina sheet "metal casing 86 having an interior flange 87, Fig. 4, which cooperates with the top of the casing to form a chamber into which the 90. This chute guides the mud; to a deliv- 'or nto suitable receptacles. i

It will now be appreciated that this invention provides a relatively simple form of ery point where it drops on to a conveyor centrifugal separatorin whichthe solid and liquid constituents of the mixture being treated are automatically separated and dis charged from the cylinder, the rate of-dis charg of the solid material being controlled automatically substantially in accordance with its rate of deposit in the cylinder. The rotary valve mechanism operates smoothly, and since it is always driven in one direction, it avoids the vibration and mechanical difficulties which are very likely t attend.

theuse' of reciprocating valves. The chainher in which the separation of the solid and liquid constituents of the mixture tal es place, has been above referred to as a cyl n- "demand the chamber shownv is of approximately cylindrical form; It will be understood, however, that the separating chamber. does not necessarily have the form of a true cylinder, and that other geometrical forms are regarded as the equivalents of the cylindrical form specifically mentioned.

l Vhile I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of the invention' of which I am at present aware,v it

willbe appreciated that this embodiment may be modified i many particulars with out'departing from the, spirit orfscope of this invention. I x

VVhat is claimed as newis: c

1'. A centrifugal separator. comprising, in combination, a-cylinder, mechanism for ro- 'tating said cylinder, means lfor conducting amixture-of solid and liquid materials to be separated-into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force on the mixture will cause the solid constituent of said mixture to separate and form a layer' of mud on the inner surface, of? the cylinder, a dis; charge-outlet for the liquid constituent of said mixture, a plurality of mud discharg "mg ports at the end of'the cylinder, and

means rotatable relatively to said cylinder forintermitte-ntly. opening and closing said ports.

centrifugal separator comprising," in I combination, a cylinder,- mechanis nforro- ,tating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture fsolid and liquid materialsto be' separated into said cylinder whereby rthe action of centrifugal forceon thev mixture will cause the solid m'aterial to separate and form a layer of mud on the inner surface of: the cylinder, a discharge outlet:forthe liquid constituent of said-mixture, a, partition' cooperating with. said cylinder vto form a mud chamberin one'end thereof, and

valve mechanism rotatable relatively to said cylinder .for controlling the discharge of mud from said chamber. r

3. A centrifugal separator comprising, in

combination, a cylinder, meclianismfforrotating' said cylinder, means for-conducting a mixture'of solid and liquid, materials to be separated int said cylinder, whereby the actionof centrifugal force onthe mix ture will cause the. solid 'material to separate and form a 'layerfof mud on the inner surface of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for the liquid constituent of said mixture,a

mud collecting chamber in said cylinder,

means for acting n the mudin ztheocyline der 'to' promote its flow into said chamber, and valve' nechanism controlling the 'disa charge of mud from said chamber.

qA centrifugal separatorcomprising, in combination, acylind'er', mechanism for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materialsto be separated'into'said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force on the mixture will cause the solid material "a separate and form a layer of mud on the inner surface of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for-the liquid constituentof said mixture, a mud chamber at eachend of said cylinder, and valve mechanism rotatable relatively to said cylinder for controlling the discharge of mud from said chambers.

t5. 7 form a, layer of, mud on the inner surface neeasaa 5. A centrifugal separator comprising, in combination, a cylinder, mechan sm for 1'o tat-mg said cyl nder, means for conducting a mixture of solid 'and liquid materials to beseparated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force on the mixture will cause the-solid materialto separate and form a layer of mud onthe innensurface of the cylinder, a dischia'rge outlet for the liquid constituent of saidmixture, partitions in said cylinder near opposite ends thereof butspaced from sa-idyencls to form mud c0l lecting chambers, and alve mechanism rotatable relatively to said cylinder for con trolling the discharge of mud from said.

6. 'A'centrifugal separator comprising, in combination, a cylinder, mechanism for ro tating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force on the mixture I will cause the, solid material to separate and form a layer-of mud on the inner surface .of the cylinder, a discharge "outlet, for the liquidconstituent of said mixture, a plurality of circumferentially arranged, discharge ports in the end of: the cylinder, and means rotatable relatively to said cylinder for in-J termittently opening and closing said ports to effect the discharge'go'f'mud from the cylinder. i

7, A centrifugal separator comprising, combinatioma cylinder, mechanism for rotating said cylinder, means for conductinga mixture-of solid and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force .on the mixture will cause the solid material to separate and form a layer'of mud on'the Inner surface of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for the liquid constituent of said mixture, a plu' of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for the liquid constituent of said nijXtu'r a pin; rality' of discharge ports ineach' end of said cylinder, a plurality of valves cooperating with said ports to effect the discharge of mud "from the cylinder, mechanism forjro :tating' said valves concentrically with said cylinder and in the same'directionbutat' a different speed therefrom to intermittently ings may be varied,

9. A, centrifugal separator, comprising,

incombination, avcylinder, mechanism for rotating sa d cylinder, means for conduct ing a mixturefl of solid and liquidmaterials open andcjlose said ports, and means whereby the rapidity of such openingsand closto lie-separated into said cylinder whereby the action ofcentrifugal force on themix ture will cause the solid material to sepa- "rate-and: form a: layereof mud onthe inner surface of the; cylinder-,.- a discharge outlet for thefliquid constituent of said mixture, mud collecting chambers at theends of said cylinder, a pluralityofdischarge' ports lead.- ing from said collecting chambers. tothe outside [of the cylinder, and valves rotatable relatively. tojbut concentrically with said, cylinder for intermittently opening and clos ng sa d portsto efiec't'the discharge'ofmud from the cylinders 1 10. A centrifugal separator romp-rising, I

in combination, a cylinder, mechanismforv rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid 'm'aterials-tobe separated into-said cylinder whereby the action'of centrifugal force-onthe" mixture" Will cause the solid material tof separate form a: layer. ofjrnud on the inn'er,surfaceof the cylinder, a d scharge outlet for the.

liquid constituent of said mixture, a plu rality of mudv discharge portslin the end of 1 said cylinder, and rotatable Valve means for controlling the discharge of mud through; said por ts comprising 'means'for covering and uncovering both the inner and; outer ends of said ports.

11. A centrifugal separator in combination, a. cylinder, mechanism for, rotating said cylinder, means for conductg a mixtur e of solid and liquid materials to'be separated into said cylinders/hereby the action of centrifugal force on the mi2- ture 'Willcause the solid material to-separate and form-a laye of ud th i n surface of the lcylin deigla discharge outlet for thefliquid constituent of i said mixture', a plurality of muddischargeqports in each end of said cylinder, rotaryyalVe'meclia}, nism for controlling thedis'chargeof mud through each set-of ports,. mean s 'fo r driV- ingtheyalve, mechanism atone end of said cylinder, and connectionsextending through the cylinder for driving. the Valve mechanism at the opposite end of the cylinder. A centrifugal separ'aton comprising, in combination, a (cylinder, -means fdr' rotating said: cylinder, means for conducting a'mi rture of solid 'andliquid materials 'tobe separated into said? cylinder whereby" the action'o'f centrifugal force on the 'IniXture' Willi-separate the solid and liquid "constit-f uents' thereof, 'a'jd'is'charge outlet fori said liquid constituent, said cylinder having a series of mu-d discharging ports formed therein, a valve plate within saidcylinder to open and close the inner ends of said ports, another plate external to said cylinder constructed to cover the outer ends of said portswhile the inner ends; thereof are open an'd to uncover the outer ends of said" ports after thejinner ends thereofhave been 7 closed by said valve plate, and mechanism for rotating said plates relatively to said 10 i I h cylinder.

- 1'3. A -c'entrifugal separator comprlsing,

iii-combination, a cylinder,means' for ro- 'tating saidcylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materialsto be separated into said cylinder whereby the action of'centrifugal force on the mixture will separate the solid andliquid constituents thereof, said cylinder having a series of mud discharging ports in the end thereof, a valve plate mounted in contact with the inner face of said end and constructed to "openand close the inner ends of said 1'3orts,anotherplate in contact withthe outer face of said end of the cylinder to cover the outer ends of said ports when said valve plate opens the inner ends thereof, and vice' versa, said'plates being mounted to rotate about the axis of rotation of said cylinder, and gear mechanism for rotating said plates in unison in the same direction as but at a different speed from said cylinder.

14E; 'A' centrifugal separator comprising, in combination," a cylinder,'means for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materials to; be separated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal. force on the mixture will separate the solid and liquid constituents thereof, said cylinder having a'series of mud discharging ports in each end thereof, valve meohanismcontrolling the discharge of mud through said ports and 00111: prising an internal and an external plate at each end ofthe cylinder, said plates being mounted'to -rotate, about the axis of said cylinder, "means for'driving one of said externaljplates, and connections including shafts projecting through said cylinder for driving the other plates from said fdriveni plate and? in unison therewith.

.15. A centrifugal separator comprising, in

combination, a cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materials to be sepa rated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force on the mixture will separate the solid and liquid constituents thereof, said cylinder havinga seriesof mud discharging ports in eachend thereof,valve mechanism controlling the discharge of mud through said ports and comprising an internal and an external plate at each end of the cylinder, said plates being mounted torotate about the axis of said, cylinder, mechanism for rotating said plates in unison in the same direction asbut at a fdifierent speed from the cylinder, and a plurality of mud distribu't-fj ing rods located within said cylinderclosely 1 adjacent tot-he inner wall thereofandsup- I ported bysaidinternal plates at the op-"V posite ends of said cylinder. 7 7

16. A. centrifugal separator =comprising, inicomoina'tion, a cylinder, mechanism for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of'soli'd and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder wherebythe action of centrifugalforce' on the mixture will cause the solid material toseparate and form a layer of mud on the inner surfaceof the cylinder, a discharge outlet for the'liquid constituent of said mixture, a plurality of mud discharge ports inthe end'of said cylin 'der, rotary-valve mechanism for opening and closing said ports tocontrol the dis' charge ofim'ud therethrough, and means responsive;automatically to variations n T the thickness ofsaid' layer of mud for-con trolling the rate of discharge of the mud from the cylinder'throughsaid ports;

17. A centrifugal separator comprising, in" combination, a' cylinder, mechanism't'for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture of solid and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder'whe'reby'the action of centrifugal force on the mixture will cause the solid material" to separate and I form a layer of mud on the inner surface-of the cylinder, a discharge outlet forztheliquid constituent" of said 7 mixture, a, plurality of mud discharge ports in said'c ylinder, a,

plurality of valves cooperating with said ports to control the discharge of mud-from the cylinder, means for rotating said valves concentrically with said cylinder in the same direction but at a different speed therefrom to intermittently open and close said ports, and means whereby the rapidity of;

such openings andjclosin'gs may be varied;

18. A centrifugal separator comprising," in combination, a .cylinder,"m'echanis'm for rotating said cylinder,,means for conduct-Y ing a mixture ofsolid and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder whereby the action ofcentrifugalforce on the-mix ture will cause the solid material to separate and form a layer'of mud on the inner surface of the cylinderya discharge outlet for the liquid constituent vof saidmixture, a plus rality of discharge ports in the cylinder,

trol the discharge of mud fromthe cylinder, i

mechanism for rotating said valves relative- 1y to said cylinder, saidvalve rotating means including a reduction gearing, and means responsive to variations in'the thickness of,

ing said reduction gearing' into and out of. connection with said valve rotating Lmea'ns to change the speed of rotation of; said valves.'

said layer of mud foriautomaticallythrofw- Valves p t g hfi d ports to con? i 19. In a centrifugal separator arranged to receive continuously and separate substances of varying density, the combination with the receiving cylinder and its end plate, of a bafile plate forming a narrow chamber between said baflle plate and end plate open to the main chamber of the cylinder near the periphery thereof, valve openings in said end plate, a rotating valve plate between said baflie plate and end plate having its axis concentric with the axis of rotation of the cylinder and also having valve arms, an exterior rotating valve plate for said valve openings arranged to close said valve openings in the end plate exteriorly when open interiorly, and open them exteriorly when,

closed interiorly, and means to rotate said valve plates in unison but at a speed variable with reference to the speed of rotation of the cylinder. 7 20. A centrifugal separator comprising,

in combination,.a cylinder, mechanism for rotating said cylinder, means for conducting a mixture ofsolid and liquid materials to be separated into said cylinder whereby the action of centrifugal force'on the mix rate and form a layer of mud on the inner surface of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for the liquid constituent of said mixture, a

plurality of mud discharge ports in said' cylinder, a plurality of valves cooperating with said-ports to control the discharge of mud from the cylinder, means for. rotating said valves concentrically with said cylinder in the same direction but at a difierent mud for automatically changing thejspeed of rotation of said valves;

' JAMES M CKAYE,

1ture will causethe solid material to sepa- J 

